A Joint Statement from FWM and AFSCME

The Fabric Workshop and Museum and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, District Council 47, Local 397, AFL-CIO (AFSCME) are pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement for a voluntary recognition process of a staff union at The Fabric Workshop and Museum. The Fabric Workshop and Museum and AFSCME have engaged in productive and positive conversations for a voluntary recognition process, reflecting the common goal of fostering a collaborative, transparent, and respectful workplace.

Under this agreement, Local 397 will have the opportunity to demonstrate to a neutral third party that they already have majority support for a union among The Fabric Workshop and Museum’s employees. This process, called a “card check,” will allow the Union and Employer to move forward expeditiously with negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement. Both parties are committed to ensuring that this process is conducted fairly and centers the best interests of the staff and workplace as a whole.

Kelly Shindler, Executive Director of The Fabric Workshop and Museum stated, “The Fabric Workshop and Museum believes in the rights of workers to organize. With an appreciation for the role that art and artists have played in the history of organized labor, this decision reaffirms our commitment to supporting the staff—nearly all of whom are artists—and our shared values of advancing creativity in our community. Without artists, there is no Fabric Workshop. We are confident this step will enable us to build a more resilient FWM.”

April Gigetts, AFSCME District Council 47 President, celebrated the agreement: “Whenever a new group of workers invests their time, passion, and energy into organizing to join our union, we always hope for a response from the employer that respects the will and the best interests of those workers. The Fabric Workshop and Museum is doing just that—let’s hope other employers follow their example! We’re excited for Fabric Workshop and Museum United to join Local 397, and we look forward to building a collaborative relationship with FWM.”

FWM’s Board of Directors and staff look forward to working together in good faith to ensure a fair and equitable process that benefits all parties and strengthens our ability to fulfill our mission.